WEST MICHIGAN — As the economy worsens, so does the plight of children, who increasingly are suffering from abuse and neglect, according to an annual statewide report released today.

The rate of confirmed child abuse or neglect grew by 51 percent between 2000 and 2008, according to Kids Count in Michigan. It grew by 47 percent in Oceana County and 61 percent in Newaygo County, according to the report that monitors child well-being in each of the state’s counties. In Ottawa County, it was stable.

“As conditions for families erode, children are at higher risk of maltreatment, particularly neglect, which involves a failure to meet the basic physical needs of children, or to protect and supervise their care appropriately,” according to the report.

It found there were 741 confirmed child victims of neglect or abuse in Muskegon County in 2008, up from 522 in 2000. The rate grew from 11 children per 1,000 to 17 in 2008, significantly higher than the state rate of 12 per 1,000.

The number of children in families investigated for abuse or neglect grew even more, from 2,484 in 2000 to 2,796 in 2008.

Kids Count in Michigan was produced by the Michigan League for Human Services and Michigan’s Children. It connected the problem of child abuse and neglect to substance abuse, depression, social isolation, homelessness and domestic violence.

“The more people are being laid off and becoming unemployed, they’re fearful for the future,” said Kris Burda, executive director of the Child Abuse Council in Muskegon. “It creates stress in the home, and that can lead to physical harm.”

Infants are at particular risk for maltreatment. Of 28,623 confirmed victims of child abuse/neglect last year in Michigan, 16 percent were under age 1 and 42 percent were under age 5.

Burda said part of the increase also could be attributed to agencies doing a better job of educating people about how to identify and report abuse and neglect.

The Kids Count report also found that in Muskegon County there were improvements in infant mortality and child deaths, though there were declines in prenatal care and the number of low birth-weight babies. There also were 7 percent more children receiving free or reduced-price school lunches in 2008 than in 2006.